(→Earlier writings: In "If one was to consider the question...", changed the mood from indicative to subjunctive, as required by the speculation: one did not actually in the past consider the question...)

[[File:Tom Cross - Alatar - Darkness-slayer.jpg|thumb|''Alatar: Darkness-slayer''<ref group="note">Tolkien did not associate Alatar with Morinehtar (which means "Darkness-slayer") and they should not be considered synonymous.</ref> by [[Tom Cross]]]]

[[File:Tom Cross - Alatar - Darkness-slayer.jpg|thumb|''Alatar: Darkness-slayer''<ref group="note">Tolkien did not associate Alatar with Morinehtar (which means "Darkness-slayer") and they should not be considered synonymous.</ref> by [[Tom Cross]]]]

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Here Tolkien, whilst unsure himself, made the explicit statement that the two Blue Wizards fell from their appointed mission, albeit in a different way to Saruman, and founded magic cults in the East and South of Middle-earth. If one was to consider the question of whether or not the Blue Wizards "failed" on this evidence alone, then undoubtedly the answer would be that they did. Indeed Tolkien also suggests that only Gandalf returned to [[Valinor]]:

+

Here Tolkien, whilst unsure himself, made the explicit statement that the two Blue Wizards fell from their appointed mission, albeit in a different way to Saruman, and founded magic cults in the East and South of Middle-earth. If one were to consider the question of whether or not the Blue Wizards "failed" on this evidence alone, then undoubtedly the answer would be that they did. Indeed Tolkien also suggests that only Gandalf returned to [[Valinor]]:

{{Blockquote|Wilt thou learn the lore <nowiki>||</nowiki> that was long secret<br/>of the Five that came <nowiki>||</nowiki> from a far country?<br/>One only returned. <nowiki>||</nowiki> Others never again|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="UTIstari"/>}}

{{Blockquote|Wilt thou learn the lore <nowiki>||</nowiki> that was long secret<br/>of the Five that came <nowiki>||</nowiki> from a far country?<br/>One only returned. <nowiki>||</nowiki> Others never again|[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]<ref name="UTIstari"/>}}

Revision as of 03:33, 27 December 2012

The Blue Wizards (S.Ithryn Luin) were two wizards sent to to contest the will of Sauron in the furthest regions of Middle-earth. Tolkien's conception of the two Blue Wizards changed dramatically between his earlier and later writings.

Contents

History

Earlier writings

The idea there there were two other wizards in addition to Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast was first conceived when Saruman in his wroth revealed that there were five members of the Order of Wizards:

Later! Yes, when you [Gandalf] also have the Keys of Barad-dûr itself, I suppose; and the crowns of seven kings, and the rods of the Five Wizards—Saruman[1]

Nothing more was said of these two wizards in The Lord of the Rings as it was published. However, whilst preparing (in 1954) an Index for The Return of the King, Tolkien wrote what his son later referred to as the 'essay on the Istari'. There it is said that of the chief wizards who went to the North of Middle-earth there were five, and two of these were clad in sea-blue. Little was known about these two in the West of Middle-earth; even their individual name were unknown, but they were known collectively as Ithryn Luin,, the Blue Wizards. It is said they travelled into the East with Curunír (Saruman) but they did not return into the West. Their fate was unknown, but some held that they fell into evil and became servants of Sauron.[2]

I really do not know anything clearly about the other two [wizards] – since they do not concern the history of the N[orth].W[est]. I think they went as emissaries to distant regions, East and South, far out of Númenórean range: missionaries to 'enemy-occupied' lands, as it were. What success they had I do not know; but I fear that they failed, as Saruman did, though doubtless in different ways; and I suspect they were founders or beginners of secret cults and 'magic' traditions that outlasted the fall of Sauron.—J.R.R. Tolkien[3]

Here Tolkien, whilst unsure himself, made the explicit statement that the two Blue Wizards fell from their appointed mission, albeit in a different way to Saruman, and founded magic cults in the East and South of Middle-earth. If one were to consider the question of whether or not the Blue Wizards "failed" on this evidence alone, then undoubtedly the answer would be that they did. Indeed Tolkien also suggests that only Gandalf returned to Valinor:

Wilt thou learn the lore || that was long secretof the Five that came || from a far country?One only returned. || Others never again—J.R.R. Tolkien[2]

In a brief narrative about a council of the Valar, the origins of the Blue Wizards are placed alongside those of the other three, Curumo (Saruman), Aiwendil (Radagast), and Olórin (Gandalf). Whilst in the essay on the Istari the Blue Wizards are given no names, here they are called Alatar and Pallando. Oromë chose Alatar to send Middle-earth (to contest the will of Sauron), and Alatar decided to bring along Pallando as his friend. Christopher Tolkien has speculated that their association with Oromë could be because he was the Vala who had the greatest knowledge of the furtherest regions of Middle-earth and hence that is where the Blue Wizards journeyed.[2]

Based on the above material, the history of the Blue Wizards can be determined as the following:

Manwë summons a council of the Valar. They decide to send emissaries to Middle-earth. Oromë chooses to send Alatar, and Alatar brings along his friend Pallando.[2]

The Blue Wizards arrive in Middle-earth at roughly the same time as the other wizards c. T.A.1000[4]

The Blue Wizards travel into the East of Middle-earth with Saruman. Saruman returns to the North West, but the Blue Wizards do not.[2]

Together or independent of each other, Alatar and Pallando fall from their appointed task. They founded 'magic' cults amongst the peoples of the eastern and southern regions, which existed beyond the downfall of the Lord of the Rings.[3]

Later writings

Towards the end of his life Tolkien returned to the issue of the Blue Wizards. In a brief outline he noted that the Blue Wizards were sent to Middle-earth in the Second Age and were destined to disrupt the work of Sauron in the East:

Their task was to circumvent Sauron: to bring help to the few tribes of Men that had rebelled from Melkor-worship, to stir up rebellion ... and after his first fall to search out his hiding (in which they failed) and to cause [?dissension and disarray] among the dark East ... They must have had very great influence on the history of the Second Age and Third Age in weakening and disarraying the forces of East ... who would both in the Second Age and Third Age otherwise have ... outnumbered the West.—J.R.R. Tolkien[5]

Therefore Tolkien dramatically altered his conception of the Blue Wizards. They no longer arrived in Middle-earth along with Saruman, Gandalf, and Radagast in c. T.A.1000. Instead they arrived much earlier, at roughly the same time as Glorfindel in c. S.A.1600. Whilst Glorfindel was tasked with aiding Elrond with the war in Eriador, the Blue Wizards were destined to journey to the East. Tolkien no longer believed that they drifted from their mission; instead he makes it clear that they played a decisive role in the downfall of Sauron at the end of both the Second Age and the Third Age. They became known as Morinehtar and Rómestámo, Darkness-slayer and East-helper, and were successful in preventing the forces of the East from outnumbering those of the Free Peoples in the West.[5]

Based on these later writings, a history of the Blue Wizards can be summarised as the following:

The two Blue Wizards were sent to Middle-earth at roughly the same time as Glorfindel in c. S.A.1600 (and similarly at the behest of the Valar), the Year of Dread, when Sauron forged the One Ring and completed the building of Barad-dûr.[5]

The Blue Wizards journeyed into the East of Middle-earth, where they remained; they were not heard or seen of west of Mordor.[5]

There they became known as Morinehtar and Rómestámo, Darkness-slayer and East-helper.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations

Gandalf mentions the Blue Wizards when he explains the number of Wizards, and says that he has forgotten their names.

Since the film production team does not have the rights to include material from sources other than The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the decision to include the line "Blue Wizards" (only appearing in Unfinished Tales[9]) has been regarded as controversial.[10]